The Tesla
Model S is the next EV that will hit the streets from Tesla. Tesla made its
name with the $100,000 Tesla roadster that had an electric driving range of
about 200 miles. The problem was that the Roadster cost so much and only held
two people making it impractical for the masses.

Tesla has now started the beta production of
its new car, the Model S. Like the Roadster, the Model S is an all-electric car
with no gasoline motor. The Model S is also a larger vehicle that will hold
four adults inside and it is much cheaper than the Tesla Roadster. The Model S
is still, however, far from what most would consider affordable (base price $57,000).

“We have started assembling the Beta vehicles,” Tesla Motors’ Model S Program
Director Jerome Guillen said. ”While most Betas are intended for testing to
prepare for production, a few are earmarked for visits to North American Tesla
stores later this year.”

The first of the beta vehicles will be used for testing and for press drives.

The S is
expected to have a driving range of about 300 miles. The car is about $20,000
more expensive than the Nissan Leaf. The Leaf is rated for 100 miles on a
charge, but the real world driving range varies greatly from 80 miles to as low
as 60 miles in some areas. The real world driving range of the Model S will
likely be lower than the estimates of Tesla.

VentureBeat reports that Tesla is
also working on an all-electric SUV called the Model X. It will run on the same
powertrain as the Model S. There is no indication at this point when the model
X will be seen.

“Alpha”
versions of the Model S started rolling off the production line back
in January.

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